Keeping It Together

|26|II

Thank you for 30k reads ❤

Hope POV

The ride didn't stay quiet for so long, eventually, Hayden would start cracking jokes and rapping which he was terrible at.

After nearly an hour of driving, we finally reached.

My mouth flew open when I saw the house.

Hayden chuckled at my reaction and parked the car beside a black Honda.

He turned the car off, opened his door, and stepped out. I was still staring at the house, at how beautiful it looked. I felt like I was .... from crazy rich Asian. Still can't get over how beautiful that movie was.

"Hope?" Hayden called, snapping me out of my thought. I turn my head to see my door was already open. "Oh sorry," I mumble, as I got out. My heels clicked against the pavement, as I got out of the car.

I join my arm with him, and we walked up the stairs. When we reached the big brown doors, he told me to close my eyes to which I rolled my eyes before closing them.

It was so obvious that they planned a party.

Hayden holds my hand, muttering watching my steps as he leads me through the house. I wanted to open my eyes a little and see how it looked on the inside but didn't.

It sounded quiet.

"Ow!" I mumble as I lost my stepping, twisting my foot.

Damn heels.

Gracefully, I kept walking, watching my step.

We finally stopped.

"Open your eyes on the count of..."

"One,"

"Two,"

"Three-"

"Surprise! Happy birthday Hope!" Everyone yelled.

I could feel tears gathering in my eyes but I tried to hold them in. As I looked at all the people that filled a very big room. Some of them I didn't recognize. Perhaps their friends of my parent.

Today is the day they died.

I did recognize, one of my teachers from New York. 

She was the first person I walked up to.

"Hello dear," I quickly pulled her into a hug. "Happy birthday Hope,"

We catch up for a while. 

She told me about the teaching job she was offered in England and she asked me if I was still doing art to which I replied by saying kinda.

After that, I greeted some of the unfamiliar faces. Some of them were old friends of my dad, and some were old friends of my mom. They all had nothing but nice things to say about the both of them.

Blake then pulled me to the side and said he had a surprise for me. "It's in here," the door opened, and I  couldn't believe who stood inside.

A smile on her face.

"Aren't you gonna give your best friend a hug?!" She yelled, sounding hurt. I ran to her and pulled her into a big hug, which lasted for 4 minutes.

"Oh shoot you made me mess up my makeup," she says, as she wiped her tears.

"I didn't know you were coming here!" I said, and she smiled.

"Duh silly, it's a surprise."

We both chuckled, and decided to start chatting but Blake decided to interrupt and told us I needed to greet people.

So that is what Jessica and I did.

That lasted for an exhausting 1 hour after that we ate food.

After eating, the guest started to leave the mansion. I stood by the door and thanked everyone for showing up and honoring my parents.

When everyone left. I turn to Jessica, whose aunt was waiting in her car for her.  goodbye to Jessica. "I'll see you next week, we could go on a picnic," I said, hoping she would say yes.

"Yes, it's a date," She blurts out, catching me by surprise.   "It's a date," I said, nodding my head.

Jessica smiled and hug me before she left.

I watched as she walked down the stairs and then stepped into a black car.

I stood by the door and watched as the car drove away. The sound of someone clearing their throat, made me turn to where it came from.

Thinking it was one of my brothers. But no it was a man who I didn't recognize.

He was badly bruised.

"Happy Birthday," he weakly told me before walking away.

"Wait!" I yelled, not sure who this man was but he looked like he needed help.

___

It will all connect in like 3 chapters down I promise.

Also, who do y'all think the man is?

Y'all I'm sorry if stuff is not adding up. (Reasons why I wanted to delete the sequel)

But I'll try to make it add up at the end.